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REVERSING TO THE LEFT |
To do this exercice we are going to use a preset mark on the rear window.I
put a coloured sticker on it.If you are in your own car and want to try this.Stop on a long straight piece of kerb.Stop about 1 foot from the kerb.Get someone to go in the back of the car.Look alongside your headrest.Get the person in the back to put their finger on the back window.Tell them to move their finger in whatever direction till their finger lines up on the rim of the kerb.When it does put a aticker there.Eventually with practice you will not need to use a sticker anymore.One other thing by looking in the wing mirror it does not tell you where the back of the car is going until it has already moved,which by now is too late.Loook at the back and you will see it move immediately.SWEEP CORNER
You will be in a parked position before the turning you are going to use.
Move away safely,
if there are any road users behind or in front put on a left hand signal half way across the road to your left.Look into the road as you pass it for any obstructions ie parked cars.
Stop on the left past the corner so you can see it in your rear view mirror.
Make sure you stop no less than 6 inches from the kerb.
If there are obstructions ask the examiner what he wants you to do.Once stopped apply the handbrake.Check the level of the road you are on and the level of the road you are going into.This will determine the clutch control.
Check for what type of corner you are using.Sharp or sweep corner.This will determine the steering.
Look all round for other road users and any pedestrians that may be near the corner you are going to use.
When safe select reverse gear,release the handbrake,and go back slowly looking over your left shoulder.This will let you see where the back of the car is steering to.
When the corner dissapears from view out of the back window look front for any oncomming cars,if any stop as the front of your car is going to swing out.Check your right blind spot by looking over your right shoulder.Any cars bikes etc stop and apply the handbrake.This applies for anything comming out of the road you wish to reverse into.All this is done whilst the car is moving so it is important that the speed is very slow.
Check your left mirror for your point of turn, which is when your rear left wheel gets level with the first of the white dotted lines across the road.If there are no lines you will have to judge where the first one would be painted on the road.
When your back wheel is on the point of turn.Look over your left shoulder at the edge of the rear windscreen, and turn the wheel to the left until the car starts to turn the corner,with the back edge of the windscreen turning in towards the kerb.
Do not turn the wheel anymore if the edge of the windscreen is still turning towards the kerb.
As a guide make sure your car does not head towards the centre line of the road you are reversing into.
There is nothing wrong with using the left wing mirror as an aid.If you cant see the kerb in the mirror you cant hit it.If you use the mirror for the whole manouvere you will fail a test as you are using the mirror as a tool to do the job and not as an aid.It is also dangerous as you cant see anybody behind the car from the right.If you are going into the kerb steer right to get away from the kerb and then bring it back round by turning the wheel left.
When you are half into the road you need to check your front left and right for other cars etc.
If any you will need to stop and apply the handbrake.As you are nearly into the road check right for any other cars and check left mirror for kerb distance,and to see if you are going to clear the furthest part of the corner that protrudes out to the road.Remember if you cant see the kerb you can’t hit it.
you are nearly into the road by now.
Look over your left shoulder alongside the headrest and at the sticker or mark on rear window.Keep looking at it from now on,and for any road users behind you
You will need to start straightning up at a slight angle, this will depend on your speed and how hard you turn the wheel.The slower you are the better as it will give you more time,and allow you to straighten on a slighter angle.
You need to put the sticker/mark on the rim of the kerb and pavement and keep it there.
If the sticker crosses onto the pavement you are going to hit the kerb.Steer right to get away.TURN THE WHEEL IN THE DIRECTION YOU WANT THE BACK OF THE CAR TO GO.
If the sticker/mark is going into the road you will be to wide.Turn the wheel left.
If the sticker/mark is where you want it, keep it there and don’t turn the wheel anymore.
Important speed is slow.
SHARP CORNER
You do everything the same as for the sweep corner except for.
At your point of turn will be when the corner is gone from view from your left wing mirror,(depending on how the mirror is set)or when the tyre is just level with the edge of the corner.
Turn the wheel fully left hard and quick keeping the speed slow
You have less room for error than the sweep corner.If you get the turn point ok the one turn on the wheel will get you round.
All the observation is the same as for the sweep corner.
You may have to straighten up slightly sooner as your wheels are on full left lock
That is the only main difference.